US Special Envoy Jared Kushner has said Israel's upcoming Knesset election is complicating efforts to advance a US-backed plan for Gaza, describing the Israeli government's approach as “a little irrational” in certain respects because of domestic political pressures.

Kushner made the remarks on Sunday during a press conference in Kyiv, where he was appearing alongside fellow US envoy Steve Witkoff and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy following talks focused primarily on efforts to end the Russia-Ukraine war.

His comments came as Washington continues to push a proposal involving the disarmament of Hamas and other armed groups in Gaza, alongside an Israeli military withdrawal from the territory.

Kushner Points to Israel’s Upcoming Election

Kushner said the United States and Israel broadly agree on what he described as the desired “end state” for Gaza but suggested that Israel's upcoming election was making negotiations more difficult.

“We're working through some political issues in Israel,” Kushner said, adding that the country has an upcoming election that makes the government “a little irrational in certain regards.”

Israel is scheduled to hold its Knesset election on October 27, 2026. The vote is expected to be an important political test for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government, with domestic political considerations also influencing debates over Gaza policy. 

US Pushes Gaza Disarmament Proposal

Kushner's remarks came amid efforts by Washington to advance the Board of Peace's proposal for Gaza. The plan calls for the decommissioning of weapons held by Hamas and other armed groups and envisages an Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip.

The proposal has encountered resistance from Israel, contributing to a delay in moving the process forward. The question of Hamas' weapons remains one of the central issues in discussions over Gaza's post-war security and political arrangements. 

Political Pressure Ahead of October Vote

The upcoming Israeli election has added another layer to the debate over Gaza. Recent reporting has highlighted renewed calls from members of Netanyahu's governing coalition for measures concerning the future of Palestinians in Gaza.

Reuters reported that far-right ministers, including National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Defence Minister Israel Katz, have renewed calls related to the emigration of Palestinians from Gaza ahead of the election. The proposals have drawn opposition from Arab and Muslim countries. 

Kushner Describes Gaza’s Situation

During his Kyiv remarks, Kushner also gave a bleak assessment of conditions in Gaza, saying the territory had been in a deeply dysfunctional state for a long period.

His comments came against the backdrop of continuing disagreements over Gaza's future, including the status of armed groups, Israeli military presence and the political arrangements that could follow any settlement.

The humanitarian and security situation remains highly sensitive, with reports of continuing Israeli military strikes despite the existing ceasefire framework. 

Kushner’s Kyiv Visit Focused on Ukraine

Although Kushner's comments on Gaza drew attention, his visit to Kyiv was primarily part of the Trump administration's diplomatic effort concerning the Russia-Ukraine war.

Kushner and Witkoff travelled to Kyiv after meeting Russian President Vladimir Putin and other Russian officials in Moscow. They held discussions with Zelenskyy on possible steps toward ending the conflict, although the talks did not produce an immediate breakthrough. 

Kushner's remarks therefore linked two separate diplomatic tracks involving the Trump administration: efforts to advance a post-war framework for Gaza and negotiations aimed at finding a diplomatic path toward ending the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

Israel Rejects US Proposal

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has publicly rejected US President Donald Trump's proposal calling for Hamas' disarmament and a phased Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip, marking the sharpest public disagreement between the two leaders over the ongoing Gaza conflict.

In a video statement shared on Facebook, Netanyahu said Israel had not accepted the draft proposal presented by the United States, insisting that it did not reflect Israel's position.

"We did not agree to it. It was not our draft," Netanyahu said, adding that Israel had submitted its own comments and amendments to the proposal.

No Withdrawal From Gaza

Netanyahu also made it clear that Israel has no plans to withdraw from Gaza at this stage.

According to the Israeli prime minister, the US administration believes Hamas can be persuaded to disarm and demilitarise the Gaza Strip through negotiations. While Israel is reviewing the proposal, Netanyahu stressed that his government has not endorsed the framework presented by Washington.

His remarks represent the first public confirmation that Israel has formally objected to key elements of the American initiative.

Trump's Peace Proposal

The proposal is part of President Trump's broader Board of Peace initiative aimed at ending the Gaza conflict.

Last week, Trump announced what he described as an in-principle understanding under which Hamas would gradually surrender its weapons in exchange for a phased Israeli military withdrawal from Gaza.

The US president said the arrangement would pave the way for Gaza to be administered by a new Palestinian authority working alongside the Board of Peace, while ensuring Israel's long-term security by preventing the territory from being used for future attacks.

Growing Rift Between Allies

Netanyahu's rejection highlights an emerging policy divide between Washington and Jerusalem over the future of Gaza.

According to US officials, the proposed disarmament-and-withdrawal framework is an extension of Trump's earlier 20-point Gaza peace plan, which Israel had previously accepted in principle.

A senior US official warned last week that President Trump would be "very disappointed" if Israel blocked the latest proposal, arguing that rejecting the framework would undermine commitments already made by the Israeli government.

The disagreement is widely seen as the most significant diplomatic rupture between Trump and Netanyahu since the current conflict began.

Board of Peace Efforts Continue

Following Trump's announcement, Board of Peace Director General Nikolay Mladenov held talks with Netanyahu, urging Israel to suspend military operations in Gaza for two weeks to facilitate negotiations with Hamas.

The Board of Peace later clarified that Israel would only be required to complete its withdrawal after Hamas had fully disarmed.

It also stated that Hamas would be expected to surrender all categories of weapons, including heavy arms, tunnel infrastructure and light firearms, before any final withdrawal took place.

Despite those assurances, Netanyahu's latest remarks indicate that Israel remains unconvinced by the proposed sequence of events and is unwilling to commit to a withdrawal under the current framework.

Negotiations Face Fresh Uncertainty

The public disagreement has cast fresh uncertainty over diplomatic efforts to end the Gaza conflict.

While the United States continues to push for a negotiated settlement combining Hamas' disarmament with a phased Israeli withdrawal, Israel's leadership maintains that its security concerns remain paramount.

With both sides holding differing interpretations of the proposed agreement, negotiations are expected to continue in the coming days as international mediators seek to bridge the divide.

US President Donald Trump has announced that he has cancelled a planned military strike on Iran, saying the decision is conditional on the possibility of reaching a rapid agreement that includes the full reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.

The announcement came amid heightened tensions in West Asia, where Iran has warned that any military action by the United States or Israel would trigger a "decisive and proportionate" response.

Trump Signals Preference for Diplomacy

In a statement posted on social media, Trump said the planned attack had been called off after what he described as an agreement on the "parameters" of a possible deal.

He indicated that Washington would pursue negotiations, provided progress could be made quickly, particularly on restoring unrestricted navigation through the strategically important Strait of Hormuz.

The decision follows several days of escalating rhetoric, during which Trump had warned Iran of severe military action.

Iran Warns Against Any Aggression

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi reiterated Tehran's position that any military aggression by the United States or Israel would receive a firm response.

During separate telephone conversations with the foreign ministers of Türkiye, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, Araghchi said Iran was prepared to respond proportionately to any attack against its territory.

Iranian officials have also maintained that any assault launched from US military bases in the region would invite retaliation against those facilities.

US Embassies Issue Advisory

Amid continuing regional tensions, US embassies across the Middle East have advised American citizens to remain prepared for possible security deterioration and unforeseen escalation.

The advisory was issued a day after President Trump warned Iran that Washington was prepared to act forcefully if necessary.

Shipping Through Hormuz Declines Sharply

The geopolitical uncertainty has significantly affected maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world's busiest energy shipping routes.

According to shipping intelligence firm Kpler, vessel traffic through the strait declined by nearly 77% in a single day, reflecting growing concerns over regional security and commercial shipping.

Fighting Continues in Gaza

Despite diplomatic developments surrounding Iran, fighting continued in the Gaza Strip.

According to reports cited in the live updates, Israeli military operations killed several Palestinians across Gaza, while airstrikes reportedly damaged infrastructure, including a medical warehouse in Deir el-Balah.

Israeli authorities also announced the killing of two Hamas commanders in separate operations, while Palestinian officials reported civilian casualties, including children.

Saudi Arabia Reportedly Urged De-escalation

Media reports said Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman spoke with President Trump before the decision to cancel the planned strike.

According to the reports, Saudi Arabia expressed concern that attacks on Iran's energy infrastructure could trigger retaliatory strikes against Gulf energy facilities and further destabilise the region.

The developments have raised cautious optimism about the possibility of renewed diplomatic engagement, although tensions between the United States, Iran and Israel remain high, and no formal agreement has yet been announced.

Prime minister’s remark on taking “first of all 70%” of Gaza appears in West Bank speech; move could push nearly 2 million Palestinians to relocate

Israeli announcement and reaction
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told an audience in the occupied West Bank on Thursday that he had instructed the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) to take control of about 70% of the Gaza Strip, a statement that drew immediate international concern and alarm among Palestinian officials. “We are now in 60% of the territory of the Gaza Strip… My directive is to move, take over step by step — first of all 70%,” Mr. Netanyahu said, according to a CNN report of the remarks.

Local and regional officials said the comment, coming amid months of fighting and a fragile ceasefire framework, risks triggering large-scale displacement in a densely populated coastal territory where roughly 2 million Palestinians live. Sources familiar with humanitarian planning note that a move to occupy such a large share of Gaza could force mass internal migration and overwhelm already-stretched aid services.

Maps and claimed control
The IDF has previously circulated operational maps to international aid agencies, officials said, and those maps — issued in late April — reportedly depicted Israeli control of roughly 64% of Gaza. Under the October 2025 ceasefire arrangement between Israel and Hamas, Israeli forces had withdrawn to a demarcation known as the “yellow line,” which encompassed about 53% of the enclave.

Humanitarian and political actors warned that shifting lines on the ground would have immediate consequences. “If the boundaries of control expand, it reduces safe space for civilians and complicates aid deliveries,” a senior aid official working in the region said on condition of anonymity. The official added that agencies were already operating under severe constraints on fuel, staff movement and secure supply routes.

Hamas and ceasefire concerns
Hamas condemned what it described as an attempt to unilaterally alter the ceasefire arrangement. In a statement on Tuesday, the group accused Israel of “an explicit and ongoing undermining of the ceasefire agreement” and warned that moving the demarcation line constituted a serious violation meant to “impose new facts on the ground.”

Diplomats in the region said the remarks could complicate international efforts to stabilise the situation and resume reconstruction planning. Western and Arab governments have repeatedly urged restraint and called for guarantees to protect civilians and humanitarian corridors.

Allegations about weapon use
Separately, reports have circulated alleging the use of so-called thermobaric or “vacuum” weapons in Gaza. Investigative outlets and some witnesses have described blasts that create intense heat and large-area effects; such weapons are controversial because of their destructive blast and incendiary characteristics. Israeli officials have repeatedly denied using internationally banned munitions; independent, verifiable confirmation of specific weapon types in many incidents remains limited.

Human toll and long-term damage
The humanitarian toll in Gaza remains severe. Local civil defence authorities have reported thousands of victims whose remains are difficult to recover after intense bombardment. Agricultural and economic damage has been extensive: aid agencies estimate that almost all of Gaza’s agricultural land has been degraded since the start of hostilities, with only small pockets remaining cultivable — a factor that will slow recovery and food security for years.

Chronology and context
The latest statements come nearly two-and-a-half years after the conflict flared on 7 October 2023, when a large-scale Hamas attack into southern Israel prompted a sustained Israeli military campaign. The October 2025 ceasefire created a temporary lull and defined lines of operation, but observers have warned that those arrangements are fragile and subject to change depending on political and military calculations.

What happens next
Officials in Jerusalem offered no immediate operational timeline beyond the prime minister’s directive. International actors — including UN agencies and donor governments — are expected to press for clarification on movement plans, protections for civilians, and guaranteed access for humanitarian relief.

Aid groups on the ground said they are preparing contingency plans for further displacement and reiterating calls for protective measures. “We’re bracing for more people on the move and for humanitarian needs to spike,” one aid coordinator said.

'Sea of Oman will become your graveyard': Iran hardliner warns US as Israel readies for renewed strikes

Tehran's Expediency Council member Mohsen Rezaei says US naval blockade amounts to 'act of war', as Israeli media reports military on high alert for fresh hostilities

A senior Iranian official has warned the United States to lift its naval blockade of Iranian ports, cautioning that the Sea of Oman could turn into a "graveyard" for American forces if tensions escalate further.

Mohsen Rezaei, a member of Tehran's Expediency Council and former commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, made the remarks during an interview with state television on Monday morning. He described the US blockade, first imposed on April 13, as an "act of war" and said Iran's military was fully prepared for additional confrontation.

"We advise the US military to end the siege before the Sea of Oman becomes your graveyard," Rezaei said. "The longer they prolong the naval blockade of Iran, the greater the damage to countries around the world will be."

Israeli military on high alert

The warning came as Israeli media reported that the Israel Defense Forces have been placed on high alert amid preparations for possible renewed hostilities with Iran. Public broadcaster Kan, citing an unnamed security official, said Israel would join any fresh American strikes and could target Iranian energy infrastructure.

The report followed a phone call lasting more than 30 minutes between US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday. Trump has maintained that the blockade will continue until Iran agrees to a peace deal on US terms.

Meanwhile, dozens of US cargo planes carrying ammunition from military bases in Germany landed in Tel Aviv over the past 24 hours, according to Channel 13. The broadcaster said the shipments were part of preparations for a possible resumption of military operations against Iran.

UAE nuclear plant attack draws Indian concern

India on Monday expressed concern over the reported drone attack targeting the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant in the United Arab Emirates, calling it a "dangerous escalation" and urging all sides to exercise restraint.

The UAE has blamed Iran or one of its proxies for the strike, which caused a fire just outside the nuclear facility. Officials confirmed there were no injuries or radiation alerts, with the emirate's nuclear regulator stating there was no radioactive leak or risk to the public.

In a statement, the Ministry of External Affairs said the attack was unacceptable and stressed the need for an immediate return to dialogue and diplomacy amid rising regional tensions.

Oil prices surge as diplomacy stalls

Oil prices rose another 2 per cent on Monday, with Brent crude trading at $110.72 a barrel – more than 50 per cent higher than before the US-Israel war on Iran began. Trump's warning that the "clock is ticking" for a peace deal has added to market jitters.

Iran signalled tighter control over the Strait of Hormuz earlier in the day, with authorities saying all vessels passing through the crucial shipping route must now coordinate with Iranian military forces. Reports from Hormuz Island said IRGC naval units have claimed authority over the strait, warning that military vessels would not be allowed to pass.

According to Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesperson, talks continue through Pakistan as a mediator, with both Tehran and Washington sending comments on a recent Iranian proposal. But Rezaei' rhetoric suggested any diplomatic breakthrough remains distant.

Strikes continue in Lebanon, Gaza

The Israeli military said it struck more than 30 Hezbollah infrastructure targets in southern Lebanon on Monday, including a weapons warehouse and observation posts. In Gaza, local reports said three Palestinians were killed when Israeli forces struck a kitchen providing meals to displaced people.

At least 871 people have been killed since the so-called "ceasefire" began last October, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry in Gaza.